EQUINE NEWS

Abigail wins place at Horse of the Year Show

There were brilliant results for two local competitors at the prestigious Royal International Horse Show at Hickstead. The smallest and youngest Cornish representative, four year old Abigail Dimond, rode in the main ring at Hickstead after winning the British Show Pony Society Pretty Polly (home Produced) Leading Rein class, riding her bay pony Cosford Charmaine.

From Hickstead, Abigail travelled to Bakewell in Derbyshire and completed the ultimate dream of any child by qualifying for the Horse of the Year Show in the leading rein class with Cosford Charmaine. Abigail will be one of the youngest riders at the event to be held at the NEC in Birmingham in October.

At Hickstead, Abigail was watched by her very proud grandparents, Patrick and Shirly Lob, her aunts and making her RIHS debut, six week old Victoria, Abigail's sister. The family were delighted with the result and in the main arena among jumps that jumped towered over both pony and rider, Abigail was crowned Reserve Champion and had to trot around the huge ring with here sash and a smile that was from ear to ear. Abigal was luck enough to have qualified for the BSPS Open Leading Rein as well with Cosford Charmaine and the Leading Rein Pony of Hunter Type with her other coloured pony, Presilli Blue Sky.

So the family had no time to stop and celebrate their victory. Abigail managed a creditable fourth place in the Open Leading Rein on Cosford Charmaine but only managed to get into the front line with Presilli Blue Sky.

Enjoyment

The family's success didn't end with Abigail's results as her aunt Marie Laity rode her father's riding horse in the amateur class and gained third place among some top quality horses.

While the smallest rider from our area was enjoying her success, Lisa Davey from Launceston was shedding tears of enjoyment. Her heavyweight cob No Joke won the Working Cob class with his regular rider, Howard Cooper.

No Joke has previously scored good results at the Royal International, taking home a second and a third and this year it was his turn and deservedly so. They won a beautiful trophy and sash which now has pride of place on Lisa's mantelpiece. Lisa added: "The five and a half hour journey home certainly didn't seem so long."

Vicky Thomas also had a great RIHS riding her coloured horse Southill Royal Miss by taking tenth place in the ridden coloured. Vicky was pulled in 14 th in the provisional line-up and put up such a good performance, moved up the line enabling her to take home a rosette.

Story by Cornish Guardian